The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Rastus on April 25, 2009, 09:24:10 PM
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Might not be a bad idea to have two or three weeks of canned goods on the shelf. I wouldn't exhort anyone to hoard ....but you may want to have enough if you need to stay home a while....you know, just doing the ant thing lettin' the grasshopper have all the fun....and exposure.
We oughta' know in a week or so if this is the pandemic that's been predicted for a while. Whaddya' think?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517876,00.html (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517876,00.html)
New Cases of Swine Influenza Confirmed in Kansas, California and Suspected in NYC
Saturday, April 25, 2009
NEW YORK — At least two cases of the human swine influenza have been confirmed in Kansas and one more in California, bringing the U.S. total to 11. At least eight students at a New York City high school probably have swine flu, but health officials said Saturday they don't know whether they have the same strain of the virus that has killed scores of people in Mexico.
A strain of the flu has killed as many as 68 people and sickened more than 1,000 across Mexico. The World Health Organization chief said Saturday the strain has "pandemic potential" and it may be too late to contain a sudden outbreak.
Kansas health officials said Saturday they had confirmed swine flu in a married couple living in the central part of the state after the husband visited Mexico.
The couple were not hospitalized, and the state described their illnesses as mild.
Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, the state health officer, said, "Fortunately, the man and woman understand the gravity of the situation and are very willing to isolate themselves."
The man traveled to Mexico last week for a professional conference and became ill after he returned home. His wife became ill later. Their doctor suspected swine flu, but it wasn't confirmed until flu specimens were flown to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
At least nine swine flu cases also have been reported in California and Texas. The new California case, the seventh there, was a 35-year-old woman who was hospitalized but recovered. The woman, whose illness began in early April, had no known contact with the other cases.
Health officials are worried because people appear to have no immunity to the virus, a combination of bird, swine and human influenzas. Also, the virus presents itself like other swine flus, but none of the U.S. cases appears to involve direct contact with pigs, said Eberhart-Phillips, who called the strain "a completely novel virus."
"It appears to be able to transmit easily between humans," Eberhart-Phillips said. "It's something that could potentially become very big, and we're only seeing, potentially, the very beginning of a widespread outbreak."
New York health officials said more than 100 students at the private St. Francis Preparatory School, in Queens, had come down with a fever, sore throat and other aches and pains in the past few days. Some of their relatives also have been ill.
New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden said nose and throat swabs had confirmed that eight students had a non-human strain of influenza type A, indicating probable cases of swine flu, but the exact subtypes were still unknown.
Samples had been sent to the CDC for more testing. Results were expected on Sunday.
The symptoms in the New York cases have all been mild, and no students have been hospitalized, Frieden said, but the illnesses have caused concern because of the deadly outbreak in Mexico.
Parent Elaine Caporaso's 18-year-old son Eddie, a senior at the school, had a fever and cough and went to a hospital where a screening center had been set up.
"I don't know if there is an incubation period, if I am contaminated," Caporaso told the Daily News. "I don't want my family to get sick, and I don't want to get anybody else sick."
Investigators also were testing children who fell ill at a day care center, Frieden said. And two families had contacted the city, saying they had recently returned ill from Mexico with flu-like symptoms.
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Doesn't sound like a bad ideal. I help out at the local EMA office, I'm going in Monday morning to see if they have heard any thing about it.
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Following from the C-D-C
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm)
Human Swine Influenza Investigation
April 25, 2009 19:30 EDT
Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the U.S. in San Diego County and Imperial County, California as well as in San Antonio, Texas. Internationally, human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in Mexico.
U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
State # of laboratory
confirmed cases
California 7 cases
Texas 2 cases
Kansas 2 cases
TOTAL COUNT 11 cases
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
See: World Health Organization
As of April 25th, 2009 7:30 p.m. EDT
Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with similar swine influenza viruses.
CDC is working very closely with state and local officials in California, Texas, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. On April 24th, CDC deployed 7 epidemiologists to San Diego County, California and Imperial County, California and 1 senior medical officer to Texas to provide guidance and technical support for the ongoing epidemiologic field investigations. CDC has also deployed to Mexico 1 medical officer and 1 senior expert who are part of a global team that is responding to the outbreak of respiratory illnesses in Mexico.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. There are many things you can to do preventing getting and spreading influenza:
There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Summary Guidance
CDC has provided the following interim guidance for this investigation.
Residents of California and Texas
CDC has identified human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in people in these areas. CDC is working with local and state health agencies to investigate these cases. We have determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, we have not determined how easily the virus spreads between people. As with any infectious disease, we are recommending precautionary measures for people residing in these areas.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
There is no vaccine available at this time, so it is important for people living in these areas to take steps to prevent spreading the virus to others. If people are ill, they should attempt to stay at home and limit contact with others. Healthy residents living in these areas should take everyday preventive actions.
People who live in these areas who develop an illness with fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, such as body aches, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, should contact their health care provider. Their health care provider will determine whether influenza testing is needed.
Clinicians
Clinicians should consider the possibility of swine influenza virus infections in patients presenting with febrile respiratory illness who:
Live in San Diego County or Imperial County, California or San Antonio, Texas or
Have traveled to San Diego and/or Imperial County, California or San Antonio, Texas or
Have been in contact with ill persons from these areas in the 7 days prior to their illness onset.
If swine flu is suspected, clinicians should obtain a respiratory swab for swine influenza testing and place it in a refrigerator (not a freezer). Once collected, the clinician should contact their state or local health department to facilitate transport and timely diagnosis at a state public health laboratory.
State Public Health Laboratories
Laboratories should send all unsubtypable influenza A specimens as soon as possible to the Viral Surveillance and Diagnostic Branch of the CDC’s Influenza Division for further diagnostic testing.
Public Health /Animal Health Officials
Officials should conduct thorough case and contact investigations to determine the source of the swine influenza virus, extent of community illness and the need for timely control measures.
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I just take off to the family land if things get all plaguey. The city folk will have to fend for themselves.
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Notice how most of the cases are from Southern states, I betcha them Mexicans have got some thing to do with this, this is the perfect crisis to close the border.
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Notice how most of the cases are from Southern states, I betcha them Mexicans have got some thing to do with this, this is the perfect crisis to close the border.
Wouldn't bother me, I mow my own yard ;)
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After all, you can't let a good crisis go to waste.
Not to steal anything from the antis' playbook. ;)
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Wouldn't bother me, I mow my own yard ;)
Me either....but my boyz mow it for me. :)
After all, you can't let a good crisis go to waste.
Not to steal anything from the antis' playbook. ;)
Exactly. 8)
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Maybe this is Stephen King's, The Stand on slo-mo?
Nice time to be in California! ::)
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We've been through this before in 1976. I was in the military and they were forcing the flu shots on us until some GI's died from the vacine...
The main thing is wash your hands. If you handle money, a filthy thing to do, wash your hands. Don't shake anyone's hands and if you must, wash your hands.
Common sense, people are filthy animals, we can't help it, it's in our nature!
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I just take off to the family land if things get all plaguey. The city folk will have to fend for themselves.
^^ Same here! ^^ Also remember to drink lots and LOTS of alcohol, my medicine of choice... Prescription # WT101. Kills damn near anything if taken properly and often.
Remember to, if people start turning into zombies and you are going to hit them with a vehicle, it is mandatory you yell, "GTA motherF'r" right as you smash them. ;D
ETA: It is slightly worrying that in the same county as I live, there have been the only 2 or 3 cases of infection reported in Texas. They are actually closing down a high school for a week. Until I hear otherwise though, I am going to stick to my medication plan and hope for the best.
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Time to bump up the old awareness level. Where are you going, do you need to go, what supplies do you have, what supplies may you need....time for a status check. Of course, Napolitano may just be beating the jungle drums to take the focus off her idiotic right-wing-extremist documentation. On the other hand, if this turns into something real, aren't we saddled with an idiot to run an emergency...I'd rather have someone interested in his own clothes than than this unmitigated idiot beating the jungle drums of fear about gunowners, churchgoers, non-Democrats, etc...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_swine_flu_emergency (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_swine_flu_emergency)
US declares public health emergency for swine flu
Reuters – New Zealand in swine flu alert
AP Reuters – Dr. Terrence Tumpey, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control microbiologist for the National Center for Infectious … 27 mins ago
WASHINGTON – The U.S. declared a public health emergency Sunday to deal with the emerging new swine flu, much like the government does to prepare for approaching hurricanes.
Officials reported 20 U.S. cases of swine flu in five states so far, with the latest in Ohio and New York. Unlike in Mexico where the same strain appears to be killing dozens of people, cases in the United State have been mild — and U.S. health authorities can't yet explain why.
"As we continue to look for cases, we are going to see a broader spectrum of disease," predicted Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We're going to see more severe disease in this country."
At a White House news conference, Besser and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano sought to assure Americans that health officials are taking all appropriate steps to minimize the impact of the outbreak.
Top among those is declaring the public health emergency. As part of that, Napolitano said roughly 12 million doses of the drug Tamiflu will be moved from a federal stockpile to places where states can quickly get their share if they decide they need it. Priority will be given to the five states with known cases so far: California, Texas, New York, Ohio and Kansas.
Napolitano called the emergency declaration standard operating procedure — one was declared recently for the inauguration and for flooding. She urged people to think of it as a "declaration of emergency preparedness."
"Really that's what we're doing right now. We're preparing in an environment where we really don't know ultimately what the size of seriousness of this outbreak is going to be."
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Swine flu.... that is something that has afflicted Washington for about 40 years.
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Shouldn't we close the borders until they do know the seriousness?
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Shouldn't we close the borders until they do know the seriousness?
We dont want to do anything crazy like that ------------->sarcasm
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Just talked to the local EMA director, he said he's received several emails from the CDC and the state. Basically the same thing being reported in the media. the only other thing he mentioned was that they plan on having a vaccine in about a week distributed to state health agencies.
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Just talked to the local EMA director, he said he's received several emails from the CDC and the state. Basically the same thing being reported in the media. the only other thing he mentioned was that they plan on having a vaccine in about a week distributed to state health agencies.
Keep us posted!
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Just stay away from Mexicans and anyone who has visited Mexico in the last couple of weeks. ;D Most of the cases are from people who visited Mexico and there are cases in Canada, New Zealand and Australia. All due to visiting Mexico!!! Poor folks.
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Just stay away from Mexicans and anyone who has visited Mexico in the last couple of weeks. ;D Most of the cases are from people who visited Mexico and there are cases in Canada, New Zealand and Australia. All due to visiting Mexico!!! Poor folks.
Gee, that's what I need, another reason NOT to go to that shit hole Mexico.
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Man, this is just retarded! Any of you guys remember the panic with SARS? There were about 300-400 people killed from SARS, that's around6X10^-6 %, that's not even statistical significance. I have no doubt this swine flu thing will be the same as with SARS.
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Man, this is just retarded! Any of you guys remember the panic with SARS? There were about 300-400 people killed from SARS, that's around6X10^-6 %, that's not even statistical significance. I have no doubt this swine flu thing will be the same as with SARS.
Is it too much to hope for a good old plague? Got to ruin our fun. ;)
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Man, this is just retarded! Any of you guys remember the panic with SARS? There were about 300-400 people killed from SARS, that's around6X10^-6 %, that's not even statistical significance. I have no doubt this swine flu thing will be the same as with SARS.
Could be retarded, but that's no reason to not keep a watchful eye out. I remember the "old people" who would tell about the flu of 1918 or so...1/2 million U.S. citizens (28% +/- infection rate; 3-5% mortality) died in that one in a far less populated, and crowded nation. I remember the Hong Kong flu in the late 60's, lot of people got sick and about the same number died then, 30k US, from it as each year now. Statistically, that's not significant now...unless you're one of the ones that doesn't get better.
I agree, this may be a non-event. It's easy to make some preparations in case wishful thinking to marginalize this illness doesn't work out. Friday or Saturday should tell the story...if it's not a "raging fire" by then it's probably a non-event. If you're old enough to remember "the old days" (I'm 52) then you can remember when people were still dying of minor things and were universally suffering early death from stroke, heart attack, virtually all cancer and other such things...if you're a bit younger, say 45 or less, that will have no meaning to you at all. In the 50 year perspective all I'm saying is, if our health care expectations don't match modern performance on a bad "bug" most people will be in for a shock and won't know what to do.
Maybe merthiolate will come back into vogue...naw...too much mercury in it. Do you other old guys remember merthiolate???? About 50% mercury..ahhh...the good old days. Maybe even mercurochrome of which I still have a bottle (also about 50% mercury) unless the wife threw it out.
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Remember them both, Ras. Had the glass (later plastic) 'stick' on the cap to apply it. ;)
I still use 'tincture of Arnica' for muscle strains and aches (HARD to find and EXPENSIVE!).
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As someone who lives in hurricane country, I've said it before and I'll say it again, keep 3-4 weeks of food and water on hand. I'm not talking MREs, just non perishables that you'll eat any way, and that can be cooked on a camp stove or your gas grill. Just buy 4-5 propane tanks rather than 1-2. And don't buy one can of corn or black beans or jars of peanut butter, buy 5 and replace as you go. Bottled water lasts for a year, and we all drink it anyway. Again replace as you go. Also buy and use those little bottles of purell. Thnk about high risk items, shopping cart handles, money, public restrooms, door handles, elevators etc. This isn't paranoia. My Stepdad had cancer and a seriously compromised immue system. His doc told him to use the purell after touching any of the above. Normally, I don't. BUT with something like this out there, it takes no time, costs pennies, and can save your butt. Its just situational awareness in a different area.
FQ13
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Back to basic Health classes that we used to get in school, and I actually got a review of in college in 1992 ... However, the traditional students were in awe, because they had never heard this stuff before:
Herd Immunity - An idea applied to humans coming out of animal husbandry where you don't go in other's barns, keep them out of yours, and don't mix your livestock. This is a disease coming up from the south, so if you are in the midst of it you will need to take more precautions, but those of us at a distance need to stay within our own and take more precautions before mixing with you down there;
Personal Hygine - This has been touched on before, but wash your hands, and your whole body for that matter on a regular basis. Most pathogens are removed by 20 seconds of brisk washing with basic soap;
Proper Nutrition - Eat healthy and balanced meals to keep yourself well fueled to fight off disease and injury;
Regular Exercise - Regular exercise and activity puts our body in a mode of being able to fight off attacks. Something as basic as a thirty minute walk every other day has been shown to help, but a regular walk daily is better;
Sufficient Rest - Pace yourself, take a short break during the day, and get restful sleep every night. Rest is another one of those things that helps your immune system fight.
Add all this to basic food preparation rules and good housekeeping, and we should have nothing to worry about.
As a former Boy Scout I still live "Prepared." I keep mouse traps out, and that is how I find out I have mice (rather than waiting for them to invade and eat the food first), I fight bugs before they invade, I use "deet" as needed to prevent West Nile rather than fighting West Nile (by the way, I have had West Nile and it ain't fun), I use precautions concerning ticks to stop Lymes Disease before I get it ...
Basic life skills take the panic out of things like this. Don't ignore it, but it is just another pebble in the path of life! I know I am preaching to the choir, mostly, but most of the Country ain't in the choir.
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Remember them both, Ras. Had the glass (later plastic) 'stick' on the cap to apply it. ;)
I still use 'tincture of Arnica' for muscle strains and aches (HARD to find and EXPENSIVE!).
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My wife knows where there is tubes and tubes of Arnica. Let me know I'll send you a case.
Whole Foods
I remember Methiolate, my father would have the 15 year little jar in the med cab. That stuff "stung" like crazy..
My ol' man would laugh, tell me to "walk it off",....
Thank DAD.
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My wife knows where there is tubes and tubes of Arnica. Let me know I'll send you a case.
Whole Foods
I remember Methiolate, my father would have the 15 year little jar in the med cab. That stuff "stung" like crazy..
My ol' man would laugh, tell me to "walk it off",....
Thank DAD.
TW, thanks for the offer but I like the liquid. The salve doesn't seem to have the same efficacy.
http://www.americarx.com/Products/5974.html
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From Haz,
TW, thanks for the offer but I like the liquid. The salve doesn't seem to have the same efficacy.
Pretty Pricey Haz, I can make a gallon of Hazerita's for 1/2 that,...
Say with Jamaican Accent: "All da pain go away den mon!" 8)
Have you given these a try, not as $.
http://www.mothernature.com/shop/detail.cfm/sku/56444
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I'll have to give that a try.
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http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=22.22809,-111.357422&spn=35.796953,63.896484&z=4
flu tracker
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Every other species has a built in population control mechanism, Lemmings run into the sea, Rabbit fever, predators etc. The only things that control HUMAN population are war and disease. Time could be placed on the list but the effects of that are being lessened by modern medicine.Just in the last 40 years the lifespan has been increased by 30 years or more. but every time we beat one disease, a worse one comes along.
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Every other species has a built in population control mechanism, Lemmings run into the sea, Rabbit fever, predators etc. The only things that control HUMAN population are war and disease. Time could be placed on the list but the effects of that are being lessened by modern medicine.Just in the last 40 years the lifespan has been increased by 30 years or more. but every time we beat one disease, a worse one comes along.
I was so going to go this way but I figure it was over the top for swine flu. Don't forget famine, and good old human nature. The thing is diseases are becoming more resistant to human's vaccines and medicine. We're literally over working our treatments into obsolescence, and the world is going to be slammed for doing so. Pathogens have time to grow their immunities and spread creating a large family tree that has alot of experience with antigens, but our vaccines all come from one nonevolving source, so we're always playing catch up.
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It's not nice to fool Mother Nature ;D
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It's not nice to fool Mother Nature ;D
It's not possible, she just tolerates it for a time until she gets so mad she slaps the hell out of everyone. ;D
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Wow. methiolate. Reddish brown liquid when applied to scrapes and cuts could get the Pope to curse. ;D I miss that stuff cause it really worked. Did not know it had mercury in it? Guess I was too young to care.
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I remember Mercurochrome and I still use Merthiolate. The sting lets you know it's working. ;)
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Wow. methiolate. Reddish brown liquid when applied to scrapes and cuts could get the Pope to curse. ;D I miss that stuff cause it really worked. Did not know it had mercury in it? Guess I was too young to care.
Used to have a history teacher that talked about antiseptic that he called 'monkey blood', ya'll talking about the same thing? I don't use any of that stuff, just tap water, if you get infected or sick, its just a much needed opportunity to build some character. ;D
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Used to have a history teacher that talked about antiseptic that he called 'monkey blood', ya'll talking about the same thing? I don't use any of that stuff, just tap water, if you get infected or sick, its just a much needed opportunity to build some character. ;D
Monkey Blood = Mercurochrome, I think. We never called it that, but it's a good name.
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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed it from the "generally recognized as safe" and into the "untested" classification to effectively halt its distribution in the United States in 1998 over fears of potential mercury poisoning. It is readily available in most other countries.
Common names for the antiseptic in households were "monkey blood" for water solutions, and "tiger blood" for alcohol solutions. This is due to the reddish stain left behind after use (blood), and the presence or absence of a stinging sensation (monkey or tiger).
Courtesy of the Interweb....
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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed it from the "generally recognized as safe" and into the "untested" classification to effectively halt its distribution in the United States in 1998 over fears of potential mercury poisoning. It is readily available in most other countries.
Common names for the antiseptic in households were "monkey blood" for water solutions, and "tiger blood" for alcohol solutions. This is due to the reddish stain left behind after use (blood), and the presence or absence of a stinging sensation (monkey or tiger).
Courtesy of the Interweb....
Guaranteed to STOP any infection, because it pretty much killed all tissue prone to infection.
The body scabbed it over and somehow we survived, just like drinking out of hoses, riding bikes without a helmet, having to ride in the back of pick up trucks, sharing bottled soda with your friend, BB gun wars, how did we ever make it?
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Guaranteed to STOP any infection, because it pretty much killed all tissue prone to infection.
The body scabbed it over and somehow we survived, just like drinking out of hoses, riding bikes without a helmet, having to ride in the back of pick up trucks, sharing bottled soda with your friend, BB gun wars, how did we ever make it?
You forgot the bottle rocket wars, best played without a shirt. That way they would bounce off, with a shirt they would get caught and burn the crap out of ya.
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Guaranteed to STOP any infection, because it pretty much killed all tissue prone to infection.
The body scabbed it over and somehow we survived, just like drinking out of hoses, riding bikes without a helmet, having to ride in the back of pick up trucks, sharing bottled soda with your friend, BB gun wars, how did we ever make it?
I think these things work kind of like vaccinations, as I hardly ever catch colds or the flu. When I do, it's never as severe nor does it last as long when compared to others. As for the other stuff, these stunts combined with sports are why I sound like a bowl of Rice Crispies when I get up in the morning.
Swoop
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How did Our Country get so sissified??? Just can't have any fun anymore... :D
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How did Our Country get so sissified??? Just can't have any fun anymore... :D
It was "for the children" :(
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Always figured perdition to come in the form of a disease..........you can't shoot a damned disease.
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Always figured perdition to come in the form of a disease..........you can't shoot a damned disease.
I think video games and movies would prove you wrong. Zombies. ;D
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I think video games and movies would prove you wrong. Zombies. ;D
Resident Evil
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We should be ok now...the white house is all over it. They're changing the name from Swine Flu to H1N1.
We'll be fine now.
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When it was first isolated, SCIENTISTS designated it as H1N1 (Cause that's the type of stuff scientists do, if it isn't alpha numeric it's Latin ) I THINK it was the media that named it Swine Flu.
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(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/swineflu.jpg)
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FYI: Regular flu kills 36,000 Americans each year
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/28/regular.flu/index.html
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FYI: Regular flu kills 36,000 Americans each year
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/28/regular.flu/index.html
Then by all means we should outlaw the flu! It's right up there with firearms.....
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(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/swineflu.jpg)
For some reason I thought the perp would be a Rahm Emanuel...
OH WAIT IT IS. THAT'S RAHM AND NAPOLITANO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE! ! !
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Great explanation but listen to how often he uses the term "If you will"...... four I think.
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=13227922
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(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/swineflu.jpg)
Now that's the best laugh I've had all day...........
not to poke fun at the sick folk or anything....
but that picture is funny.
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Got swine flu go hug a mooslim or two .Just saying. 8)
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PIG's Are US MOOSLIMS WELCOME :o
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090502/ap_on_he_me/us_swine_flu_immigration_debate
he swine flu virus has infected the immigration debate, with talk show comments like "fajita flu" and "illegal aliens are the carriers" drawing vehement protests from Hispanic advocates.
The volatile immigration issue had cooled off on talk shows and in the blogosphere as the presidential election and economic crisis unfolded. Now, some are using the spread of the virus to renew arguments that immigration from Mexico is a threat to America.
There have been no reports of swine flu leading to incidents of discrimination or profiling of Hispanics. But some Hispanics say racist anti-immigration rhetoric fueled the recent rise in hate crimes against Latinos, and they want to prevent another surge.
Since the virus began to spread, talk radio host Michael Savage has said the Mexican border should be closed immediately and that "illegal aliens are the carriers." Another radio personality, Neal Boortz, has suggested calling the virus the "fajita flu," and CNN's Lou Dobbs called it the "Mexican flu," according to the liberal watchdog group Media Matters.
Boston radio host Jay Severin was suspended indefinitely for calling Mexican immigrants "criminaliens" and emergency rooms "condos for Mexicans" during a discussion about swine flu. A member of a New York City commission on women's issues, Betsy Perry, apologized for blogging that Mexico might need to "get a grip on its banditos" and other flu-related remarks.
In an interview, Savage, who says he has a Ph.D in epidemiology and human nutrition from the University of California-Berkeley, said his remarks were based on science.
"The first rule of epidemiology is to find the epicenter of the disease and close it off," he said. "This has nothing to do with race and everything to do with epidemiology. Viruses do not discriminate."
The World Health Organization does not recommend closing borders, saying that would have little effect, if any, on stopping the virus from spreading. President Barack Obama called the idea "closing the barn door after the horses are out."
What some call science, others call racism.
"Using fears over a serious and ongoing public health issue to demonize immigrants is incredibly low and incredibly cynical, not to mention completely unsubstantiated," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. "Some of these comments are overtly racist and have no place in our public discourse."
Liany Arroyo, director of the National Council of La Raza's Institute for Hispanic Health, said some were trying to exploit the virus "as a mechanism to stir fear."
"This situation is not about immigration, it's about health," she said. "We're all in this together."
But fear is not a rational beast. History is rife with unfounded health scares, some as recent as the 1980s, when Haitians were banned from donating blood in the United States during the early stages of the AIDS epidemic.
So, for anyone who looks Mexican, today's casual cough can turn into humiliation.
In Wilmington, N.C., construction worker Juan Mendoza said he was "working for these rich people ... the other day, and they kept asking me and my co-worker if we were sick. It made me feel bad. Like it's our fault?"
Moises Fernandez, a Raleigh, N.C., resident originally from Tamaulipas, Mexico, said no Americans have openly offended him. "But I know what they're thinking," said the 24-year-old construction worker. "You can tell with how they look at you."
The immigration debate exploded in 2007 when President George W. Bush proposed an overhaul that would have legalized millions of illegal immigrants. Talk radio led the charge against the idea, calling it "amnesty," and the legislation failed to pass. Bush then increased border enforcement and workplace raids, further inflaming tension.
There were 830 Hispanic victims of hate crimes in 2007, the most recent year for which FBI statistics are available, up from 819 in 2006 and 595 in 2003. Hate-crime charges were filed in three recent high-profile killings of Latinos. That led to calls for a new federal law, and the House passed a bill last Wednesday.
Now, with Mexican drug violence seeping across the border, Obama backing a path to citizenship for the 12 million illegal immigrants, and the new swine flu, the ingredients for another explosion are assembled.
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Boston radio host Jay Severin was suspended indefinitely for calling Mexican immigrants "criminaliens" and emergency rooms "condos for Mexicans" during a discussion about swine flu.
I listen to Severin every day on the way home from work. Believe me, this is not even close to the worst thing I've heard him say about the illegal aliens coming from the south. In fact, I think he coined the term "criminaliens" about five years ago! He's the scapegoat of the hour in Boston because the Globe and the Herald hate him for his conservative/libertarian voice.
He's outspoken, has a huge audience in Boston and Providence and they just can't take the heat...it will probably drive him out of the market. MSNBC said worse things about the tea parties than Severin ever said about the Mexicans.
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..........He's outspoken, has a huge audience in Boston and Providence and they just can't take the heat...it will probably drive him out of the market. MSNBC said worse things about the tea parties than Severin ever said about the Mexicans.
Seems a like a confirmation of fascist MSM.
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Seems a like a confirmation of fascist MSM.
Did we really need confirmation? ::)
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Did we really need confirmation? ::)
Nope, but if you haven't noticed I've got a bad habit of sprinking the obvious around...we do get visitors and I'd like to do my part that they take something positive away with them. :)
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Nope, but if you haven't noticed I've got a bad habit of sprinking the obvious around...we do get visitors and I'd like to do my part that they take something positive away with them. :)
Then I support your endeavors entirely my friend...keep up the good work! (http://www.smileyx.com/smilies/evilgrin0010.gif)
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